At long last, here is my long-overdue letter. (And the book -- give me you reactions -- I'm curious whether a non-Montrealer will receive the same impact as did I.)
Well, things are never boring here. Just after New Years, our part was ransacked -- the thief made away w/ my Pentax, which is about the only possession we have, anyway, and Bart's immigration papers. Happy New Year. Too bad -- I was just beginning to get into photog. But thems' the breaks, I guess.
Still don't know about the job. I have an appt w/ Immigration on Thurs. and will find out then. The whole thing bores me stiff by now. But I will persevere! (for awhile anyway.)
I have been seeing a lot of "flicks" lately. One of the universities very near to us has an excellent film program -- 75 cents too. They've had a D. W. Griffith retrospective (in honor of D.W.'s 100th) -- it was very interesting as I've never seen any of his stuff. Missed the biggies, Birth of a Nation and Intolerance but saw Orphans of the Storm, complete with a very lovely Lillian Gish as well as a "pussy-footing Robespierre"! Griffith's montage effects -- the "Griffith sequence" or whatever it's called, are very effective -- lot of suspense.
Yesterday there was a Stan Brakhage festival -- with Stan himself in person. Fortunately, he was there, or I probably wouldn't have understood a quarter of what he is trying to do (in terms of "document" art, capturing all aspects of "sight"). He is a very unassuming guy, very unpretentious, wit a very kind and articulate manner. I remember that Immorth told me he lived (?) with him awhile when Brakhage was in Pittsburgh. (Surely you know of his famous "Pittsburgh Trilogy!" I didn't, before yesterday!) What do you know, and what is your opinion, of Brakhage? I've always heard of him as an important underground filmmaker, but till yesterday knew nada.
Also saw Godfather II which provokes mixed feelings. Think what Coppola is trying to show in terms of degeneration and power corruption is excellent, but story line and motivation need to be tightened up. Saw the Emigrants and The New Land (together on a double bill -- quite a viewing feat) just after God. II and it provides an interesting contrast of 2 different periods of immigration as well as 2 different types (rural vs. urban settlement). I'm sure you've seen them -- what's your opinion? The other film I've seen recently is Fellini's Amarcord which I liked, with reservations -- it's a little too broad-humored (pun intended) for my taste (pun not intended!) Maybe it's my Puritan background, but big-breasted women don't make me fall off my chair with laughter!
Now that I've gloated over all the "cinema" available in this cultural center -- what are you up to? It must be Coldsvilles, U.S.A. in Deer Lodge. (It has been -15 here!) Unthinkable! How is the job -- still freeform? Hope so -- I know how rebellious you'd become if your freedom were curtailed, and I'd hate to hear you were incarcerated for insubordination! Didn't you tell me they have Wed. night movies at the prison? What sort of films?
Has your friend from Boston come to brighten your days and nights. If so, how are things working out? I'm sure your heart is going pitty-pat at the sight of an Eastern face again!
Got a letter from Wendell a few weeks ago -- he told me "Forsman left under a cloud". How intriguing! I am simply consumed with curiosity!! He also told me, sadly, that Lancour and Kolish have both had health problems recently. I guess Lancour had a mild heart attack and Dr. Kolish must be having more of the same problems she had before.
Oh -- I spent a week in NYC at N.Y. Eve time. Hard-hearted that I am, I left Bart in Montreal as he was sick and had a lot of studying to do. But I had a simply gala time! I stayed with Anne (you've met her_ -- who is just back from 7 months in France *and having some problems of readjustment, bien sur). New York is such an infinite sort of place, don't you think? Just everything, good and evil, is there. I fell in love with Little Italy. It seemed so authentically ethnic -- also very reminiscent of part of North Beach in S.F. I wouldn't mind living there, should I decided to try to get my bite of the Big Apple.
Apropos of which, I received a letter recently from Elaine -- she hadn't written before as she'd really had a truckload of problems. Her husband had had some sort of enlarged lymph nodes and they were very worried -- the tests, etc. were dragged out for months, but everything turned out OK as the growths were benign. What a relief -- I hate to think of Elaine under such psychological pressure -- as we've agreed (you and I) so many times, she is such a tip-top sort of woman.
Anyway -- she sent me a bunch of addresses of library director friends of hers in various Long Island locales -- so if I do decide to return stateside, there will be a lead.
I'm enclosing a clipping re the origins of Halloween which you were grumbling about in your last letter. (My God -- Halloween -- it's only 3 months ago -- I am a procrastinator!)
Well, shall warp this up for this time. Write soon -- letters are the boon of my existence. Hope the hot and cold water faucet of your life (your analogy) maintains an even temperature (but what would you do if, as in our apt bldg, they shut the hot water off? Hmmmmm?!)
P.S. Thanks again for you Noel phone call -- it was a bright addition to the holiday season!
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